It was amazing what a little sex could do for one's outlook on life, Jenna thought. Before, she'd felt disorganized and lost, now she exuded confidence and ability. She was on-task, on-point, and on her A-game.

And, frankly, feeling pretty smug that she and Reece had both been dressed and business-like when Tyree had strolled into The Fix just after noon.

Now, it was twelve-fifteen, and she was seated at the long table in the back bar, which was doubling as a temporary conference room. She shared the table with Brent, Tyree, Easton, and Reece. The latter sat across from her, a position that she'd intentionally chosen, as the possibility of his thigh or hand brushing hers during the meeting had far too much potential for distraction.

After only a few minutes though, she'd had to reassess that supposition. Because every time she'd looked up, there he was, looking right back at her. Which would have been fine, except that his eyes made her remember the way he'd looked at her naked. And his hands brought back memories of the sensual warmth that spread through her body in the wake of his touch. And his mouth...

Well, she couldn't look at his mouth, because all that did was make her go soft and wet between her legs, and the last thing she needed during her very first partnership meeting was to squirm like a harlot as she tried to battle back a fantasy-induced orgasm.

Once they'd all been seated, Easton had taken point, walking them all through an overview of what they needed to do to formalize the partnership and to make sure the new business ran as planned—and that they were all working toward the goal of increasing profits and repaying the mortgage.

Easton had pulled her aside before they'd begun, and she'd apologized again for breaking their date.

"The night just went kablooey," she said, then explained about the ridiculous job interview. "I would have been terrible company."

He'd sympathized, but he'd also asked her out again. Which, frankly, Jenna hadn't been expecting.

"Oh. Well. Um." She frowned, then told a little white lie, saying that she'd thought more about it, and she just didn't feel comfortable dating him right then.

It was technically true, even while being a big fat lie of omission. It wasn't her fault that he interpreted "right then," to mean while he was acting as the attorney for the new partnership. Because, of course, the real reason was sitting across the table from her.

But Reece and Jenna had already decided that until Brent knew the truth, they couldn't tell anyone. "He'll be fine," Reece had assured her. "So long as he knows we're both all in, he'll be happy for us."

Jenna hoped he was right. Brent was like a brother to her, and the thought of messing up that relationship was eating at her.

What? Brent mouthed at one point when Easton was describing the nuts and bolts of the partnership agreement.

She just smiled and shook her head, embarrassed to realize she'd been staring at him, dreading the inevitable moment. Mind wandering, she'd mouthed back. Legalese.

He'd grinned, and she'd said a silent thank you for having pulled off the deception.

In truth, there really was a lot of legalese. During the two-hour meeting, Easton went over the nitpicky details of the partnership as well as the various model releases and other handy-dandy agreements he'd drafted for the calendar contest. He passed around sheaths of paper to each of them, chock full of legal releases, partnership agreements, banking documents, and on and on and on.

He was relentless. To the point where Jenna was happy to sign whatever Easton thrust in front of her, just to stop the madness.

"It's a celebration, that's for sure," Tyree said, once all the ink was dry. "But we still have to pay off the damn mortgage by the end of the year, or else we're right back where we started, only worse. Because you boys will have lost your investments." His expression was tight, reflecting his ongoing fear that everything would fall apart. That they'd all lose the bar, and the guys would lose the money they'd kicked in to finance the campaigns to increase the bar's revenue, the biggest of which was the calendar contest.

A contest that just happened to be Jenna's primary responsibility.

She felt that weight on her shoulders as she stood up and leaned against the window, facing them all. "It's going to be great," she said, hoping she exuded confidence. "I know we have a ton of customers who want to help. And when we get the word out that one of the reasons for the calendar contest is to keep The Fix open and operating, we'll have even more support."

"I'm not sure about that," Tyree said. "You seriously want us to announce that we're in dire straits?"

She met his eyes. "Absolutely. Not that it's dire. But just the facts. The balloon note is due at the end of the year. And if the money isn't there, The Fix will go away. Austin's a town that loves its local institutions. We just need to give the people a reason to support us."

He leaned back, clearly not thrilled with the idea, but he looked from Reece to Brent in turn, and when they both nodded, he shifted his attention to Easton. "Well, counselor? You see a downside to this?"

"Honestly, no. There's a whole population of Austinites who'll want to help a place like The Fix stay open. Good food, awesome drinks, great service, and a music line-up that includes lots of local bands. Get the word out, and they'll come. And if they don't..." He trailed off with a shrug. "Well, that's something you need to know, too, right?"

Tyree didn't answer immediately, but he nodded slowly. Finally, he looked up at Jenna. "Fine. But we're sharing facts, not weaving sob stories."

"Exactly," she confirmed. "And keep in mind, the calendar contest is only one arm of the octopus. We've got new marketing ideas, other ways to monetize. A whole laundry list of marketing goodness. In fact, we're starting full-blown on Saturday at Eeyore's Birthday Party," she added, referencing the annual Austin event where The Fix was going to have a stall selling beer, drinks, and limited snacks. "I'll have flyers letting folks know that an expanded menu is in the works, and also advertising the contest. So expect sign-ups by next week."

She moved behind Tyree and put one hand on his shoulder. "In other words, we've got this." Her eyes met Reece's as she spoke. "You just have to have faith."

"And with the four of us leading the charge," Reece added, "there's no way we'll fail."

"Ted Henry might have something to say about that," Tyree said, referring to the man who'd made him the original loan. A man who Easton had learned just happened to be one of the major investors in Bodacious and its related bars and restaurants.

"Ted Henry's a two-faced bastard who'll end up getting exactly what's coming to him," Brent said. "I keep telling Faith that bad guys get their comeuppance. I'm not letting the prick make a liar out of me."

"I say we drink to that," Tyree said. "Reece, you want to do the honors?"

"Hell yes," he said, then went behind the bar and came back with a tray topped with five pints. They raised their glasses, and Tyree looked at each of them in turn. "To the best friends a guy could hope to have."

"Right back at you," Brent said. He glanced at his watch. "And since we open in about an hour, I think it's time we all get to work. So we can keep our promises to earn shit tons of money over the next seven months."

"Deal," Jenna said, just before Aly poked her head in and waved for attention.

"Sorry to interrupt, but there's a woman here who says she's supposed to meet with Jen. Her name's Maia?"

"Be right there," Jen said. Then to Tyree, she added, "See? I told you your regulars want to help."

"That girl's a sweetheart," Tyree said. "Been coming here since she was an undergrad."

"We met in grad school," Jenna told him a few minutes later, when the two of them walked out to meet the vibrant black woman who hurried over to greet them, the beads on the ends of her tiny braids flashing in the bar's dim morning lighting.

"I'd love to officially work with Jen on all of this," Maia told Tyree after she'd given him a hug in greeting. "But we're doing an event for the corporation that owns Bodacious." She grimaced. "Conflict. But I've got all sorts of contacts to share with Jen. And," she added, "I have some ideas about bringing in talent. And there's no conflict issue when I'm just shooting the shit with a friend."

"Don't you do anything to get in trouble," he said.

Maia pressed her hand against her chest and fluttered her eyes. "Me? Perish the thought. Now go away," she added, waving him off. "Go be productive and let us talk."

He chuckled but did as she ordered. "You're sure it's okay?" Jenna asked again, once he was out of earshot.

"Sweetie, I never do anything that would mess with my business. Especially not so soon after making partner. But helping a friend? Helping to keep my favorite bar's doors open? I mean, this is the place that helped me make partner in the first place. If my former boss weren't so busy with her touring schedule, then she'd still be a solo act, and I'd be an employee. But Tyree let her perform, and her career took off. And now here I am in all my marketing glory."

"Fair enough," Jenna said, laughing. And Maia did have a point. Her partner was Cam's sister, Kiki King, a singer/songwriter in Pink Chameleon, a Grammy award-winning band.

"Speaking of, PC's on tour right now, but I think they might be able to perform in October for the wrap-up of your calendar contest."

"That would be amazing," Jenna said. She and the guys had agreed that the twelve events would be held on alternating Wednesdays, with the competition for Mr. January taking place on the third Wednesday in May. Just two and a half short weeks away.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the schedule," she told Maia. "I figure we need to build excitement with each of the twelve contests. I don't want interest to lag, so we have to get more and more creative over the course of the twelve events."

"That would be my advice," Maia said, pushing her purple glasses higher on her nose. "You want to start with a bang, of course, but at the same time, you want excitement to build. Because falling enthusiasm will be a death blow to success."

"But no pressure," Jenna said, and they both laughed. Aly came over then to take their lunch orders, and the conversation shifted to nitty-gritty things like how exactly to build that magical excitement, which printers in town were reliable, which morning TV shows were always looking for content, and which local celebrities might be induced to enter the contest. Or, if not that, to promote either the contest or The Fix itself.

By the time Maia said she had to run, Jenna felt ridiculously optimistic. Like maybe she had a handle on all of this. Like maybe everything was going to turn out okay.

She stayed at the table for another couple of hours, her laptop in front of her as she shot off email after email and filled her electronic to-do list with so many tasks it was a wonder her computer didn't howl in protest.

"You're looking very productive."

She twisted in her chair, smiling, as Reece laid his hand on her shoulder. "That's because I'm kicking ass and taking names. I've pretty much got feelers out to the whole city at this point. Before I'm done, we'll have local celebrities as contestants, local female celebrities as judges, and every person in the city stumbling all over themselves to get coveted tickets to the Wednesday night contests."

"Tickets?"

"We have to have a way to control the door. I figure we give some away—I'm thinking radio as one possibility—but charge a premium for the rest. There's more panache with a price tag."

He bent over and kissed her head. "I love the way you think."

"Reece!"

She scooted her chair away from him as she shot to her feet, her eyes scanning the bar for Brent. For anyone who might have noticed the kiss.

"He's in the office talking with Tyree," Reece said, reading her mind.

"But Aly and Eric and Tiffany are here," Jenna said, heading toward the back of the bar and the door that led to the alley. "We have to be careful," she added. But as soon as the service door shut behind them, she was in his arms, sighing against his chest as he held her tight, one hand lightly cupping her ass as the other rubbed gentle circles on her back.

"Come home with me tonight," he said.

"Soon," she promised, as nerves twisted her stomach.

He cupped her chin. "He loves us both, Jen. If he's upset, it'll be with me. But at the end of the day, he'll be okay with it."

"Maybe." She wanted to believe him, but she couldn't shake the fear. Reece and Brent were her family. The only family she had near here now that her mom had moved away.

And even though she trusted Brent with all her heart and loved him like a brother, Jenna knew only too well that even family can let you down. And the people who claim to love you can leave just like everyone else.